Nature contact, nature connectedness and associations with health, wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours

Martin, Leanne; White, Mathew P.; Hunt, Anne; Richardson, Miles; Pahl, Sabine; Burt, Jim

doi:10.1016/j.jenvp.2020.101389

Cited by 487 publications

(420 citation statements)

References 76 publications

(86 reference statements)

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“…Another area of consideration for future research is the conceptualization of CN as trait versus state. Some authors consider CN to be a trait-like construct that is relatively stable over time (Clayton, 2003;Mayer and Frantz, 2004;Nisbet et al, 2009;Martin et al, 2020), a notion that is supported by the present studies. Yet research suggests that CN may be more statelike, dependent upon seasons and weather patterns (Duffy and Verges, 2010;Nisbet et al, 2011) and able to be manipulated, for example, through exposure to natural environments (Mayer et al, 2009).…”

Section: Future Researchsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…nature (Klein and Hilbig, 2018;Nisbet et al, 2019;Mena-García et al, 2020); and multisensory nature experience via virtual reality (Soliman et al, 2017). Evidence suggests that exposure to nature may be related to the development of CN (Schultz and Tabanico, 2007;Braun and Dierkes, 2017;Cleary et al, 2018;Martin et al, 2020), although it is unclear whether exposure to nature is in fact an accurate representation of experiential or behavioral CN.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The CN-12: A Brief, Multidimensional Connection With Nature Instrument

et al. 2020

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In recent decades, there has been increasing interest in (re)connecting people with nature to foster sustainability outcomes. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting a relationship between connection with nature and pro-environmental behaviors. Connection with nature has often been conceptualized as a unidimensional construct, and although recent evidence suggests that it is multidimensional, there is ongoing debate regarding the dimensions that make up connection with nature. Existing multidimensional connection with nature instruments capture similar dimensions, yet they are lengthy and may not have practical application in real-world contexts. This research sought to clarify the dimensions of connection with nature and to develop and validate an abbreviated yet multidimensional connection with nature instrumentthe CN-12. Analyses of two large datasets revealed three dimensions of connection with nature-identity, experience, and philosophy. Results suggested that the CN-12 and its three dimensions are positively correlated with: (1) environmental and altruistic values; (2) time spent in nature; and (3) a range of pro-environmental behaviors. Results also suggested that the CN-12 and its three dimensions are stable over time and are positively correlated with two existing multidimensional connection with nature instruments, the Nature Relatedness (NR) Scale and Environmental Identity (EID) Scale. The utility of the CN-12 for exploring human connections with nature and the role of fostering connection with nature to increase engagement in pro-environmental behaviors are discussed.

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Section: Future Researchsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The CN-12: A Brief, Multidimensional Connection With Nature Instrument

et al. 2020

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“…Factor 3—knowledge and attitudes—also consisted of three variable‐blocks: (a) knowledge and study of nature, (b) valuing nature, and (c) concern for nature. Given that pro‐environmental behaviours are distinct from pro‐nature conservation behaviours (Martin et al, 2019), a fourth factor was also included consisting of one variable‐block of items regarding pro‐environmental behaviours.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The green care code: How nature connectedness and simple activities help explain pro‐nature conservation behaviours

et al. 2020

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The biodiversity crisis demands greater engagement in pro‐nature conservation behaviours. Research has examined factors which account for general pro‐environmental behaviour; that is, behaviour geared to minimizing one's impact on the environment. Yet, a dearth of research exists examining factors that account for pro‐nature conservation behaviour specifically—behaviour that directly and actively supports conservation of biodiversity. This study is the first of its kind to use a validated scale of pro‐nature conservation behaviour. Using online data from a United Kingdom population survey of 1,298 adults (16+ years), we examined factors (composed of nine variable‐blocks of items) that accounted for pro‐nature conservation behaviour. These were: individual characteristics (demographics, nature connectedness), nature experiences (time spent in nature, engaging with nature through simple activities, indirect engagement with nature), knowledge and attitudes (knowledge/study of nature, valuing and concern for nature) and pro‐environmental behaviour. Together, these explained 70% of the variation in people's actions for nature. Importantly, in a linear regression examining the relative importance of these variables to the prediction of pro‐nature conservation behaviour, time in nature did not emerge as significant. Engaging in simple nature activities (which is related to nature connectedness) emerged as the largest significant contributor to pro‐nature conservation behaviour. Commonality analysis revealed that variables worked together, with nature connectedness and engagement in simple activities being involved in the largest portion of explained variance. Overall, findings from the current study reinforce the critical role that having a close relationship with nature through simple everyday engagement plays in pro‐nature conservation behaviour. Policy recommendations are made. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

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“…Sometimes, person-place couplings may progress to such levels that it becomes favourite places (Hammitt et al, 2004). Moreover, level of bonding or perceived connectedness to nature may positively influence appreciation of the natural world and induce more pro-environmental behaviour (Alcock et al, 2020;Martin et al, 2020). Combining geopiety, person-place coupling and favourite places, it becomes imperative to dig into the bonds and couplings people make with specific places.…”

Section: Being In Nature and Relating With Naturementioning

confidence: 99%

How engaging with nature can facilitate active healthy ageing

Duedahl

Blichfeldt

Liburd

2020

Tourism Geographies

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Ageing populations call for ways of facilitating active healthy ageing. Engagements with nature can positively affect well-being and healthy ageing, but challenges remain to move beyond framing ageing as inevitable, gradual decline and disengagement, towards active and healthy engagements with nature. So far, little attention has been paid to how different ways of being in and relating to nature can facilitate active healthy ageing. Through go-alongs and interventions in the Danish Wadden Sea National Park, we explore how and why older adults relate to nature. Drawing on Heidegger's (1927/1962) notion of 'Dasein' and theories of therapeutic mobilities, we discuss how older adults engage in nature, with nature, or become through nature. By re-framing these variations of engagement, the theoretical contribution represents different archetypes of engagement with nature, where active healthy ageing transpires through therapeutic mobilities that enable complex fields of relations with others and nature. For nature to contribute to active and healthy ageing requires a fundamental shift from understanding nature as static and other-toman to evanescent versions of individuals' subjective being. The latter acknowledges the embeddedness of walking, emotional geographies and therapeutic landscapes. Recognising that 'nature is not just nature' points to the insufficiency of merely promoting walking or offering access to being in nature. Instead, active healthy ageing with nature becomes a matter of setting the enabling conditions for a population of highly heterogeneous older adults to continuously engage with nature in ways that facilitate transformative experiences.

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Nature contact, nature connectedness and associations with health, wellbeing and pro-environmental behaviours

Cited by 487 publications

References 76 publications

The CN-12: A Brief, Multidimensional Connection With Nature Instrument

The CN-12: A Brief, Multidimensional Connection With Nature Instrument

The green care code: How nature connectedness and simple activities help explain pro‐nature conservation behaviours

How engaging with nature can facilitate active healthy ageing

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